THE prospect of an FA Cup semi-final pitting Tranmere Rovers against Sunderland is sure to stir memories of a couple of thorny issues between the clubs in recent years.

THE prospect of an FA Cup semi-final pitting Tranmere Rovers against Sunderland is sure to stir memories of a couple of thorny issues between the clubs in recent years.

The first concerned the bizarre conclusion to an FA Cup fourth round tie at Prenton Park in January 2000, in which Tranmere briefly had one more man on the field than they should have.

The second developed over midfielder Sean Thornton's move from Prenton Park to the North East in the summer of 2002, when Tranmere claimed Sunderland made an illegal approach to their player.

The Cup tie controversy prompted a large scale FA enquiry into how Tranmere had 11 men on the field after defender Clint Hill had been sent off near the end of their 1-0 victory.

Sunderland's directors wanted the game replayed but the FA's investigation cleared Tranmere of any mischievous intent and put the blame on referee Rob Harris and his officials.

Thornton's move to Sunderland prompted Tranmere to make a formal complaint to the Football League, when it came to light the young Irishman had trained and taken a medical at the Stadium of Light while still under contract at Prenton Park.